BMJ Best Practice Podcast Hypercholesterolemia
Apr 8, 2025
Thorsten Leucker, Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University, dives into the critical issue of hypercholesterolemia, a condition affecting many adults. He discusses how to effectively assess and manage cholesterol levels, emphasizing the importance of lifestyle modifications and tailored treatments. Leucker also highlights new cholesterol-lowering therapies like PCSK9 inhibitors and the necessity of genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia. Additionally, he addresses myths about statin side effects, reassuring listeners of their safety.
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Types and Risks of Hypercholesterolemia
- Hypercholesterolemia includes elevated LDL cholesterol or mixed hyperlipidemia with triglycerides.
- Both are highly atherogenic and strongly linked to cardiovascular disease events.
Diagnosing Hypercholesterolemia
- Diagnose hypercholesterolemia primarily via lipid panels and family history.
- Early screening is triggered by significant family cardiovascular history or detected lipid abnormalities.
Comprehensive Lipid Testing
- A comprehensive lipid panel should measure total cholesterol, HDL, triglycerides, LDL (calculated), lipoprotein(a), and apolipoprotein B.
- These provide a full picture of atherogenic lipoprotein burden.